Inside the PD: Phoebus' Daniel commits to Howard

Phoebus guard James Daniel III, a rising senior whose role has shifted dramatically with each new season, has committed to Howard University.

Daniel chose the Bison over Holy Cross, his only other offer. Daniel also received recruiting interest from Rider, Appalachian State, Quinnipiac and Richmond.

“Howard was the first to offer, and that meant a lot to me,” Daniel said. “They were always with me and wanted me to get better. I really like the coaching staff there and I like the tradition of the school."

He said he plans to study law at Howard.

Daniel averaged 12.2 points a game as a junior last season, his first as Phoebus' starting point guard. As a sophomore, he was primarily a spot-up shooter. As a freshman, he came off the bench.

With the departure of Troy Williams for Oak Hill, Daniel goes into his senior year as the Phantoms' leading returning scorer. He has 647 career points.

"His first year was spent with a learning curve," said his father and coach, James Daniel Jr. "He was learning to understand the game, especially from a defensive point of view.

"As a sophomore, he played the point occasionally. Last year, he played the point and picked up his leadership, which was critical. He's gotten better each year, and he's gotten bigger."

Coach Daniel said his son is now 5-foot-11, 160 pounds.

Daniel III is playing AAU ball this summer for Team Loaded out of Richmond. They will be playing in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Milwaukee and Las Vegas before the end of the month.